The Prosperity Message

It’s time our generation stands up and say, “Enough is enough!”  In one of my classes the other day, “the prosperity message” came up.  The professor informed us that the fastest growing churches in the poorest parts of Africa are continuously being taught “the prosperity message.”  His aim was to challenge our “American way of thinking” about what prosperity is.  He asked for us to share our thoughts on “the prosperity message” being taught in Africa.  My immediate response was that “the prosperity message,” at its worst, is bull-crap and poor people should not be told that God will make them rich if they serve him or give the little finances they do have over to the church.  I said that following Christ sometimes means suffering and while I believe God wants to bless His children; our aim should not be to gain earthy riches.  My professor challenged me and said, “What kind of good news is that when these people have been suffering their entire lives.”  I said, “The good news” is that Jesus has made it possible for us to have eternal salvation, whether we are wealthy on this earth or not.  He, playing the devil’s advocate, said “How is that good news when their immediate needs of food, water, and shelter are not being met?”

For those of you that are not really familiar with “the prosperity message,” it is a world-wide wave among Christian churches which teaches that the more we give to God (especially financially), by giving to a ministry, television evangelist, or a church, the more we will be made prosperous.  While some “prosperity churches” teach that being prosperous is more than just financial wealth, most “prosperity teachers” have an unbalanced focus on financial gain.  You may hear some ridiculous evangelist on TV saying something like, “There is a woman at home right now watching this program whose son is on drugs (dah!); I believe if you send $100 to our ministry, God is going to deliver your son from drugs.”  The poor and desperate woman sitting on the couch feels compelled to send her last $100 for the next two weeks, which was her grocery money, to this manipulative evangelist, in great hopes that her son will get off drugs.  Sadly, chances are that God never spoke to this evangelist, but he has justified himself by calling his lies “positive proclamation!”  Therefore, the women gave up her grocery money, ate scraps for the next two weeks, and guess what; her son is still on drugs.  Meanwhile, televangelist guy hops on his self-owned airplane, carrying a suitcase full of two-thousand-dollar suits, to fly over to Northern Africa and preach this same message to his desperate and weak prey!

“The prosperity message” is also being taught in hundreds of Christian churches!  The teaching is most popular among the poor and needy, for obvious reasons.  The mostly poor congregation watches their bishop or pastor wearing top-notch clothes, driving a BMW, and owning a beautiful mansion.  They are taught, rather directly or indirectly, that if they give to God, He in turn will bless them with the luxuries they see their leaders flaunting.  Unfortunately, while their leader and his family enjoy their mansion, the congregation sits at home in the projects or low-income-homes, just waiting for the “wealth” they have been promised.  Some may feel inspired by “the prosperity message” and get up and start a business which does make them wealthy, but this does not happen because God is giving them money since they gave money to God.  It simply means that their pastor is more of a motivational speaker than a carrier of the gospel and someone in his audience decided to get off their butt, work hard, and make some money!

Now, I want to be clear that God desires to bless His children, but not because we give in hopes that He will make us rich.  I do believe God has called certain people to be rich; not for their own gain, but so that they may give to help further the true message of Christ.  I don’t believe that God has called every Christian to be financially rich; if we were all rich we would be a bunch of snobs that don’t need each other!  God does, however, promise to provide for every Christian’s needs.  In other words, there is nothing wrong with Africans being taught that if they serve the Lord, he will take care of their needs (food, water, clothes, shelter, etc…).  The Bible says that God is a good Father who always takes care of His children, but this does not mean God want everyone to be rolling in hundred-dollar-bills!

“The good news” has absolutely nothing to do with money!  If you are looking for gifts because you were good this year, ask Santa Clause.  “The Good News” is that Jesus came to earth, died on the cross for humanities sins, and is willing to save our souls from eternal death and punishment, if we will only accept Him as our Savior!  All the riches of this world will eventually fade away, material possessions may be stolen and will eventually diminish, but the love of God, found in Jesus Christ our Lord, is forever.  We should not give to get!  We should give because we love Jesus, want to see the Kingdom of God grow (churches and ministries do need funds to keep things going), and desire to bless others with all we have been blessed with from God!!!

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